Ryūsei-ha is one of the Japanese schools of ikebana.
Founded in 1886 by Yoshimura Kaun, Ryūsei-ha has its roots in the Ikenobō school in Kyoto – the oldest school of ikebana. Yoshimura, an active Ikenobō practitioner at the time, left to forge his own path, establishing Ryūsei-ha in Tokyo, where its practise remains strong today. Initially named Ikenobō Ryūsei-ha, the school continued to focus on the two classic styles of ikebana pioneered by the Ikenobō school: rikka and shōka (or seika).
Under the leadership of the second headmaster, Yoshimura Kakyu, Ryūsei-ha underwent a transformative phase with the introduction of jiyū-ka (freestyle arrangement). This innovation allowed practitioners greater expressive freedom, blending classical elements with personal embellishments to cater to the evolving tastes of a new generation.
The third headmaster, Yoshimura Kasen, further expanded on the freestyle approach by promoting the principle shokubutsu-no-kao – ‘the appearance of plants’. This method encourages practitioners to bring out the character and beauty of individual flower stems or leaves as viewed from different angles.
Through accentuation, each plant material is brought to life – an idea that goes back to the roots of ikebana philosophy five centuries previously. As a result, each arranged display not only reflects the character and personality of the arranger but also their unique perspective and connection with the plant materials.
After Yoshimura Kasen’s passing in 2015, his son Yoshimura Kashu assumed leadership of Ryūsei-ha, upholding his father’s legacy by continuing to champion the distinctive philosophy of the school.
Today, Ryūsei-ha embraces several different arranging styles:
- Rikka: The oldest and traditional method, developed as an offering of flowers in Buddhist temples.
- Shōka (seika): A formal style that evolved throughout the Edo period.
- Jiyū-ka: A freestyle approach that blends classic elements with the artistic expression of the practitioner.
- Flower installation for commercial or exhibition purposes.
In addition, Ryūsei-ha uses a broad spectrum of materials for its ikebana, including plants, vegetables, and even non-organic materials like metals and painted plastics. Brightly coloured peppers, for instance, are considered attractive materials for arrangements.
As lifestyles in Japan evolve and modern houses often lack tokonoma alcoves, the free-spirited jiyū-ka style has seen an increase in popularity, while classic styles are practised less. According to Keiko Ruddick, a practitioner of Ryūsei-ha, the school is actively adapting to evolving lifestyles and demands by, for example, incorporating smaller vases and experimenting with arrangements inspired by modern art.
Explore the exquisite artistry of ikebana through monthly changing displays at Japan House London, skilfully crafted by members of the Ikebana International London Chapter.
Thank you to Keiko Ruddick for contributing to this article.